An Investigation into Suicidal Behaviours by Males during the Process of Marital and De Facto Separation. The project has a likelihood of reducing rates of fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour by high-risk groups such as males aged 25 - 44, and growing Australian populations such as the separated/divorced. The anticipated saving of lives, injuries, and mental distress is expected to achieve substantial and sustainable cutback in individual, corporate and public expenditure on mental health, i ....An Investigation into Suicidal Behaviours by Males during the Process of Marital and De Facto Separation. The project has a likelihood of reducing rates of fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour by high-risk groups such as males aged 25 - 44, and growing Australian populations such as the separated/divorced. The anticipated saving of lives, injuries, and mental distress is expected to achieve substantial and sustainable cutback in individual, corporate and public expenditure on mental health, injury control and suicide prevention by government, community and corporate agencies. Time and personnel resources utilised by the police, ambulance, coroner, hospital, and insurance departments can be diverted from highly preventable suicides to other areas. Read moreRead less
Understanding how local and regional accessibility are associated with active travel, and related health and economic impacts. Exercise and walking are vital for a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing. The accessibility and ’walkability’ of where one lives and works is key to supporting physical activity. Consequently, public health practitioners, urban planners and the transport sector face a common strategic challenge; shifting people from private vehicles to active forms of transport. This project ....Understanding how local and regional accessibility are associated with active travel, and related health and economic impacts. Exercise and walking are vital for a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing. The accessibility and ’walkability’ of where one lives and works is key to supporting physical activity. Consequently, public health practitioners, urban planners and the transport sector face a common strategic challenge; shifting people from private vehicles to active forms of transport. This project aims to model the health and economic impacts of the ease of: walking and cycling within neighbourhoods; and travelling across wider geographical areas on time spent walking and cycling for transport among both adults and children. This project aims to enable the research team to maximise the opportunities the environment provides for both positive health and well-being in Australia.Read moreRead less
Urban spaces and active ageing: understanding person-environment interactions to inform activity-friendly community design. The proportion of older adults in urban areas is rapidly growing, leading to increases in health-care costs that are associated with chronic diseases. This can be offset by creating urban environments that support an active lifestyle across mid-to-late adulthood. How urban community designs shape the physical activity of this understudied age group is unclear. Using a suite ....Urban spaces and active ageing: understanding person-environment interactions to inform activity-friendly community design. The proportion of older adults in urban areas is rapidly growing, leading to increases in health-care costs that are associated with chronic diseases. This can be offset by creating urban environments that support an active lifestyle across mid-to-late adulthood. How urban community designs shape the physical activity of this understudied age group is unclear. Using a suite of national and international epidemiological studies, This project aims to identify the optimal mix and spatial distribution of destinations (facilities and places to visit) for active ageing, while taking into account factors that define one’s ability and willingness to visit these destinations. This will inform public policy and activity-friendly community design.Read moreRead less
Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, ....Antisocial behaviour in young Australian adults: Social and economic influences. Antisocial behaviour is prevalent in Australia and imposes large social and economic costs. Currently, much of the crime prevention research has been conducted overseas. The findings of this study will provide important insights into the development of antisocial behaviour from childhood and adolescence through into young adulthood in the Australian context. By better understanding how factors such as unemployment, alcohol-related entertainment, and sporting participation influence antisocial behaviour in young adulthood, prevention and early intervention programs can be developed to target specific subgroups. In this way spending on criminal justice systems can be reduced and a safer, more harmonious community can be fostered.Read moreRead less
Drug Use by a Community Sample of Young Amphetamine Users in South-East Queensland â?' A Longitudinal Study. Drug use can impact on the national well being in a multitude of ways. In 1998-1999 the fiscal cost of licit and illicit drug use was estimated to be $34.4 billion, while drug-related crime is estimated to cost Australia $1.96 billion annually. This study is valuable in its capacity to inform evidence-based policy and practice addressing amphetamine uptake and amphetamine use trajectories ....Drug Use by a Community Sample of Young Amphetamine Users in South-East Queensland â?' A Longitudinal Study. Drug use can impact on the national well being in a multitude of ways. In 1998-1999 the fiscal cost of licit and illicit drug use was estimated to be $34.4 billion, while drug-related crime is estimated to cost Australia $1.96 billion annually. This study is valuable in its capacity to inform evidence-based policy and practice addressing amphetamine uptake and amphetamine use trajectories and harms. This has implications for developing strategies to enable young Australians to make healthy choices regarding amphetamine and other drug use, and for the broader economic and social benefits arising from healthy and productive individuals, families and communities.Read moreRead less
Socioeconomic inequality and diet: a multilevel study of why socioeconomic groups differ in their food purchasing behaviours. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups experience higher mortality and morbidity rates for many chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease and type 2 diabetes). Dietary quality, and factors affecting this such as food purchasing choice, play a key role in the onset and progression of these types of diseases, and the lower quality diets of families from disadvantaged backgrounds ....Socioeconomic inequality and diet: a multilevel study of why socioeconomic groups differ in their food purchasing behaviours. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups experience higher mortality and morbidity rates for many chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease and type 2 diabetes). Dietary quality, and factors affecting this such as food purchasing choice, play a key role in the onset and progression of these types of diseases, and the lower quality diets of families from disadvantaged backgrounds contribute to their poorer health. This Project will determine why socioeconomic groups differ in their food purchasing behaviours, by examining the influence of environmental and individual-level factors. Project findings will increase our understanding about socioeconomic differences in diet, and inform public policy, health policy, and health promotion.Read moreRead less